"Who's coming?" Snow said.

Chow Chow scrambled to his feet and jumped over the side of the boat. He hovered above the water, his white robes billowing around him. Overhead, a red stain seeped across the sky. Something glinted from amongst the clouds, then another, and another, until a roiling swarm appeared. It was fast-moving – and heading towards them.

"What's happening?"

"No time to explain, you have to go!" He pushed the boat a few paces and she grabbed his arm.

"What! No! Come with me!"

"Don't worry about me, I'll be alright. I'll handle them." His tone was reassuring, but the look of sorrow and dread in his eyes made Snow's heart constrict. He placed his hand over hers, and then he made her let go.

Snow floated away from him. Above them, the rumbling of the approaching legion grew louder. Chow Chow glanced up, his expression darkening. He raised his arms. A gust of wind rose. His hair and robes, now reddish in the light, swirled around him in a vortex of leaves and cherry blossom petals.

A luminescent streak appeared underwater, like a lightning bolt connecting him to her boat and the cave. It grew so bright that Snow could not look. Between her fingers, she saw that Chow Chow's face had turned a deathly shade of pale. He had squeezed his eyes shut and his dark brows were furrowed in concentration.

The air crackled in her ears as an energy – pure and white like moonlight – enveloped the boat. It pulsated over her skin and made the hair on her arms and neck stand on end. The waters churned around them and her boat bobbed like it was on the rough seas, bringing her closer to the cave mouth, but she was still too far away from safety.

Just a bit more, just a bit more. Snow wished she had some way to paddle the boat forward.

There was movement from above – an army was almost on top of them. Gold helmets and armor flashed in the light. Sabers and spears rattled. Two soldiers plunged towards her with hands outstretched. 

It's the Celestial Army!

"Chow Chow!" she screamed.

He looked up – his eyes glowing iridescent blue like the moonstone earrings he wore. His palm shot out and Snow ducked into the boat just as a strong blast of wind sent the two Celestial soldiers flying.

"Go!" he roared.

Another blast of energy sent the boat into the cave like an arrow released from a bow. She fell to the floor and porcelain cups clattered around her. Wine dampened her sleeves and the smell of plum blossoms assaulted her nose. By the time she got up, Chow Chow was a small, glowing white figure at the end of a tunnel.

The two soldiers tried to come after her, but then the cave was sealed by a pulsating wall of light.

"Chow Chow!" She shouted his name until she was hoarse and the cave entrance became a pinpoint, like a star.

Chow Chow, why didn't you tell me this was going to happen? A huge part of her regretted leaving him behind. But wasn't this what she wanted? Suddenly, she wasn't so sure.

What did I get myself into? Why did I come up with this hare-brained idea! I could have stayed in Heaven and lived happily ever after with Chow Chow. Why, why! She smacked the sides of her head in frustration before burying her face with her hands. Should I turn back?

No, he said that he will handle them and not to worry about him. I'm returning to the mortal realm to be with Erden! It's all for Erden. There's no turning back, I have to keep going! 

She wondered how Chow Chow meant to send her back. He said he used to travel across the realms, but now it took too much out of him. She didn't have any answers; all she had was trust in him, and the fervent hope that her body was still intact.

Snow peered ahead of her in the darkness, trying her hardest to be brave. The walls were slimy and smooth like the intestines of an ancient beast. It was quiet, save for the sound of water dripping from the ceiling, and the boat cutting through the murky water. She listened out for celestial soldiers  but none came.

She shivered, both out of fear and the chill that permeated the air. Only Chow Chow's lantern lit her way and gave her comfort; she dreaded to think how dark it would be if it burned out.

In the faint light, the tunnel seemed to appear only just before her boat, and disappear right behind her. It was impossible to know where she was going or how much time had passed. The only thing she was thankful for, was that the tunnel did not meander but went in a straight line.

So far so good. Knowing my kind of luck, if I had to choose between two paths, I'd probably choose the wrong one.

Her boat suddenly slowed. Oh no, why did we stop?

She floated in silence until a pillar appeared out of nowhere. She didn't want to believe it until her boat hit it with a bump. The tunnel had split into two.

Gaaaaaaah! There are two tunnels! Which one do I choose? She tore at her hair and cursed her rotten luck as she looked from one entrance to the other. The water remained stagnant, giving her no leads. Do they go to the same place or different places? What if one takes me straight to Hell?

Her breathing became rapid. Pull yourself together! Panicking will not get you anywhere! Oh Goddess, have mercy on me. Please, let me pick the right way, I don't want to be stuck in here. The thought of floating in the darkness for all eternity with no way out was her idea of Hell.

I'll go left. No! I'll go right! No, wait... A part of her wanted to go left, but her gut feeling was that she should turn right. I'll go right, I'll take the right! With shaky hands, she pushed off against the walls and guided her boat into the tunnel on the right.

She floated on, all the while praying that she had made the right decision. It didn't seem like it; the walls and murky water had turned black and it was like traveling weightlessly into a void. Was she traveling underwater? Was she traveling across the universe? She could not determine. She couldn't hear anything.

Is this the right way? Can I turn back if it's wrong? But I can't tell if it's the right or wrong way now. For a moment she had a morbid thought: What if all that was all just a pleasant dream? Was Chow Chow just a figment of my imagination? Am I actually on the way to purgatory?

She took large, shaky gulps of air into her starved lungs. Why was it so hard to breathe? The light in the lantern spluttered, and she laid down, her head spinning like a top. Her wrist burned and her stomach twisted in on itself.

Oh no, not again. Mother, help me, please! She closed her eyes to the various forms of pain coursing through her. Out of nowhere, a voice rang slowly and clearly like a bell in her ear:

"Princess Snow! You have upset the laws of Heaven and Earth. There are dire consequences arising from your actions! A price has to be paid! A life, for a li–"

The lantern flickered out.

Question: What do you think happened to Chow Chow? And what did the voice mean?